ARTICULATED JOINT MEANS

Abstract: A device for a connection link between two structural members (1, 2), e.g., two door leaves, a door and door frame, table leaves or similar, where at each end of the adjacent edge portions of the structural members a pair of coupling members (14, 15) are provided which have coordinated movement by means of tooth-rimmed segments (23, 24) on each of the coupling members, means (3) being provided to hold the centres of curvature of said tooth-rimmed segments at a fixed distance from one another, and made of an extruded profile body having a smooth, closed periphery, and which extends between two pairs of coupling members and is designed to fill the space between said edge portions (4, 5) of the structural members. The profile body in cross section has a rounded part (6, 7) at each end and a waist which has a smaller cross section than the rounded part, and the edge portions (4, 5) are each made with a complementary, rounded part which spans an arc which is equal to or less than said rounded part of the profile body, preferably in the range of 120 DEG -210 DEG , more preferably 165 DEG .

Description: ARTICULATED JOINT MEANS The present invention relates to a device for a connection link between two structural members, e.g., two door leaves, a door and door frame, table leaves or similar, where at each end of the adjacent edge portions of the structural members a pair of coupling members are provided which have coordinated movement by means of tooth-rimmed segments on each of the coupling members, means being provided to hold the centres of curvature of said tooth-rimmed segments at a fixed distance from one another. Many are those who have injured their fingers by getting them trapped or jammed in a door. This is something that happens in particular to children. The consequences of such incidents are most serious when a person's fingers are jammed in the hinge edge of the door, where the edge of the door meets the stop of the frame with a shearing function. Because of the moment of the door with the hinge as the centre of motion, a door which is set in motion by a small force can, merely by means of its dynamic force, crush fingers, especially if the door is heavy. Therefore, it is on the hinge side of the door that the protection against jamming is concentrated. In order to provide non-jamming, there are two main principles, viz., that the edge of the door or alternatively part of the frame is finished off with a soft material, e.g., a rubber strip, which is so thick that there is space between the door and the frame for fingers (or the hand) and a compressed rubber strip, or alternatively that fingers or hands are prevented altogether from coming between the door and the frame. Of these two alternatives, the last is deemed to be preferable since the first alternative rarely provides space for more than the fingers. If, for instance, a young child crawling around on the floor gets his tiny arm in the space between the door and the frame, the consequences could be catastrophic. The present invention which shall be described in detail below belongs to the last-mentioned category, viz., the alternative which prevents fingers or hands from coming between a door and a frame. However, the present invention does not have as its object to provide a device having the expensive and unaesthetic features that have existed hitherto. What is meant by this is that the existing so-called "non-jamming" hinge sides have a cylindrical frame part where the hinge function moves as a pivot from the centre of the cylinder. This cylinder must be considerably larger than the thickness of the door to be capable of being opened to a position of 90°. In the case of an opening in a position of 180°, the cylinder would be unacceptably large. .another method is to provide the door and the frame with a projection, but the problem with a solution of this kind is however the same, viz., that the opening can only be made slightly more than 90°. A device of the type mentioned by way of introduction is known from US Patent 2072028. However, this patent relates to a solution where there is no possibility of jam-proofing. Danish Patent 151347 relates to a solution where said tooth- rimmed segments have a longitudinal dimension which is equal to the length of the adjacent edge portions of the structural members. In a solution of this kind, substantial jamming injuries occur and in addition articles of clothing may be drawn into the articulation when the door is moved. A solution which basically corresponds to the one in US Patent 2072028 is disclosed in European Patent Publication 0026021. Also with this solution, which is especially designed for folding doors, one runs the risk of a jamming function. Nor will a folding door structure of this type be soundproof without the use of sealing strips or similar. Another device of the type mentioned by way of introduction is disclosed in Norwegian Laid-open Publication No. 142360. This device has many features in common with the device that is disclosed in Danish Laid-open Publication 151347. The present invention thus aims to provide a device of the type mentioned by way of introduction which solves the known problems in a simple manner. The device is characterised, according to the invention, in that said means consist of an elongate profile body which has a smooth, closed periphery, and which extends between two pairs of coupling members and is designed to fill the space between said edge portions of the structural members, that the profile body in cross-section has a rounded part at each end and a waist which has a smaller cross-section than the rounded part, and that said edge portions are each designed to have a complementary, rounded part which spans an arc equal to or less than said rounded part of the profile body. According to further embodiments of the device, the one long side of said cross-section is substantially straight, and the second long side on either side of a central waist part curves outward. In one particular embodiment, the cross-section of said central waist part will preferably be straight. According to additional alternative embodiments, the profile body may have an approximately B-shaped cross-section, or a roughly peanut shell shaped cross-section or a cross-section that is roughly shaped like a figure of 8. The said arc of the complementary, rounded part preferably spans an angle in the range of 120° - 210°, preferably 165°. At least one seal may be provided at the waist portion for sound- draughtproofing. A sealing body, e.g., of a thermally activated material, is preferably provided in a recess on the rounded part of the profile body and/or on said complementary rounded part. Moreover, it is of advantage that the arc of said complementary rounded part has an overgrip, the extent of which is less than half of the distance between said centres of curvature. The invention shall now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Fig. 1 shows two structural members, e.g., a cupboard door, a folding door, a window, a table leaf or similar with a non- jamming knee joint in a closed, plane position. Fig. 2 shows the same as Fig. 1, but opened/turned through an angle equal to 2 x 45°. Fig. 3 shows the same as Fig. 1, but opened/turned through an angle equal to 2 x 90°. Fig. 4 shows a knee joint or profile body, according to the invention, which also serves as connection link between coupling members. Fig. 5 shows a preferred embodiment of a coupling member, according to the invention. Fig. 6 shows a variant of the device, according to the invention, with extra articulation between the coupling members. Fig. 7 shows as an example a folding door which makes use of the device according to the invention. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show a non-jamming frame and door in a closed position, open at 90° and open at 180°, respectively. Fig. 11 shows two structural members, e.g., a folding door or similar with the fitting mounted in a recess from a plane side and with the two structural members shown in a closed or plane position. Fig. 12 shows the section XII-XII in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 shows a door where the device has been mounted from the plane side of the structural members. Fig. 14 shows the section XIV-XIV in Fig. 13. Figs. 15 and 16 show a non-jamming frame and door combination having simple tooth-rimmed segment control of the profile body or the knee joint in the closed position of the door and open at 90°, respectively. In Fig. 1 two structural members 1, 2 are shown having an intermediary or knee joint 3. The one half 1 or 2 may be in the form of a door, a frame, a table leaf or similar. The structural parts 1, 2, along the adjacent edge portions thereof are designed to have a cylinder segment female part 4, 5. These are adapted to the corresponding curved portions, 6 and 7 respectively, on the knee joint or profile body 3. It would be expedient to have the profile body made of an extruded profile, e.g., of plastic or aluminium, or alternatively a planed or processed wooden strip. The said surfaces 4 and 5 have preferably the same or a somewhat larger radius than the radius of the knee joint 3 to accommodate the male cylindrical surfaces 6 and 7. The knee joint 3 is relatively slim along the length thereof. In order to prevent the knee joint from becoming dislocated, i.e., disengaged with the said surfaces 4, 5, e.g., in the middle along said adjacent edge portions, the surfaces 4 and 5 are always provided with an overhang ' and 5' , and thus guide the knee joint 3. Said surfaces 4 and 5 preferably span an arc of an angle equal to 120-210°. However, a preferred angle is 165°. Because of the said overhang there is thus no need for extra guiding fittings on, e.g., the middle of the knee joint 3. This function may optionally be doubled such as is shown in Fig. 7, where also suspension and guiding can be carried out in connection with the folding door illustrated therein at the points which are indicated by means of the reference numerals 8 and 9. In order to make possible movement up to 180°, two centres of motion 10,11 are required, as well as the overgrip 12 being limited such that the tip 13 never prevents opening at 180°. The distance between the centres of motion 10 and 11 in the knee joint 3 are minimally limited in that there must always be at least twice the distance 12 in order to allow motion through 180° to take place. The distance between the centres of rotation 10 and 11 may however be increased so that the knee joint lifts out the one structural member 2 as can be seen in Figs. 8-10. Although the knee joint 3 is preferably extruded from aluminium, it may also for instance be of extruded plastics or alternatively of wood or a wood-based material. In addition to its function to prevent injuries due to jamming, the knee joint serves as an interacting part with the coupling members 14 and 15. In Fig. 5 a coupling member 14 of this kind is shown in more detail. In addition to mounting holes 16 and 17 for screws 18 and 19, the coupling member 14 is provided with a pin 20 which engages with a central hole 21 as shown in Fig. 4. When the coupling member part 15 is mounted in a similar way with its pin 28 (see Fig. 6) in the central hole 22, the two coupling members 14, 15 will have a coordinated movement since both coupling member parts 14, 15 are provided with respective tooth-rimmed segments 23 and 24. In this way a folding connection link is formed together with the previously described cylinder segment surfaces and overhang. As is shown in Fig. 1, the coupling member parts 14 and 15 are inlaid in the side edges of the members 1 and 2, or, alternatively, are milled in as shown with the parts 25, 26 in Figs. 11 and 12. Alternatively, this may be effected from both planes, although only one side is shown here. In Figs. 11 and 12, the parts 25, 26 at adjacent ends are provided with tooth-rimmed segments 25', 26', and central pins 25'' and 26'' on each of these are fed into respective holes 21 and 22 on the knee joint 3. In Fig. 6, it is shown how the parts 14, 15 may optionally be reinforced with one or two couplers 27 which connect parts of the pins 20 and 28 as shown in Fig. 6. in order, for example, to be able to mount a door and a knee joint and associated coupling members close to a door frame 29, as is illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14, it would be advantageous to bend the coupling members or fitting parts 30, 31 and 32 down on the front 33, 34 and 35 of the door leaf, the knee joint and the door frame respectively. As is made clear in Figs 13 and 14, this will facilitate the screwing into place. Should one wish to make the tooth-rimmed segments 36 and 37 on respective coupling member parts 38 and 39 as small as possible, transfer gears 42 and 43 may be placed between the rotational centres 40, 41 thereof. Thus, the coupling members which transfer the rotary connection between the parts 38 and 39 are made as least visible as possible. In order to provide soundproofing, the knee joint 44 in the variant of the knee joint 3 which is shown in Fig. 14, may be provided with one or optionally two sealing strips 45. To protect against fire, i.e., to make the door, frame and articulation according to the present application as fireproof as possible, the knee joint 3 or 44 and/or the knee caps 4, 5 and 46, 47 respectively may be provided at a protected point with a substance which expands when subjected to heat. A solution of this kind can be seen more clearly in Figs. 8-10, where the fire inhibiting substance is indicated by means of the reference numeral 48, alternatively 49. As can be seen in Figs. 8-10, the door 50 as shown will be capable of being turned through an angle of 180° without there being any risk of serious injuries due to, e.g., fingers or hands being jammed, as is well known in connection with conventional door hangings. In the embodiment form of the knee joint 3 which is shown in Figs. 1-4 and 7, said joint may have a cross-section that is roughly the shape of a capital letter B. In the variant shown in Fig. 8, the one long side 51 of the cross-section of the knee joint is straight, whilst the second long side on each side 52, 53 of a central waist part 54 curves outward. As can be seen in Figs. 8-10 and 14- 16, said waist part 54 is straight. In the alternative embodiment of Figs. 8-10 which is shown in Figs. 17-18, it can be seen that the knee joint is approximately peanut shell shaped in cross-section. The knee joint in Figs. 17-19 is indicated by means of the reference numeral 55. In other respects, the specification and mode of operation for the knee joint is as shown and explained in connection with the preceding figures. A modification 56 of the knee joint which is made apparent in Figs. 1-4, 7 and 12 is illustrated in Fig. 20. In this case the knee joint has been given a cross-section that is roughly in the form of a figure of 8. In order to be able to carry into effect the solutions that are shown in Figs. 8-10 (and also for Fig. 17-19) , reference shall be made to Figs. 15 and 16 as an alternative to the solution that is illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14. These figures show a door leaf 50, a knee joint 44, a pair of coupling members 57, 58 having fixing screws 59, 60 and 61 for attachment to the door frame 29 and screws 62, 63 and 64 for attachment to the door leaf 50. In order to relieve the knee joint 44 of pressure an extra link 65 may be mounted between the centres of rotation 67 and 68 on the respective coupling member parts 57 and 58. This link 65 is screwed to the knee joint 44 by means of screws 69 and 70, access to the screws 69 and 70 taking place through respective holes 71 and 72 in the parts 57 and 58. As described, for instance in connection with Figs. 1-4, the parts 57 and 58 with the door leaf 50 and the frame 29 respectively can move relative to one another with the aid of the tooth-rimmed segments 73 and 74 on said part 57 and said part 58 respectively. With the present invention one achieves a non-jamming connction link between two structural members and at the same time obtains an attractive and flat surface, on one side surface of the two structural members at least, in that the knee joint on one of the long sides thereof is made flat.

Claims: P a t e n t c l a i m s 1. A device for a connection link between two structural members, e.g., two door leaves, a door and door frame, table leaves or similar, where at each end of the adjacent edge portions of the structural members a pair of coupling members are provided which have coordinated movement by means of tooth-rimmed segments on each of the coupling members, means being provided to hold the centres of curvature of said tooth-rimmed segments at a fixed distance from one another, characterised in that said means are made up of an elongate profile body which has a smooth, closed periphery, and which extends between said two pairs of coupling members and is designed to fill the space between said edge portions of the structural members, that the profile body in cross-section has a rounded part at each end and a waist which has a smaller cross-section than the rounded part, and that said edge portions are each made with a complementary, rounded part which spans an arc which is equal to or less than said rounded part of the profile body. 2. A device as disclosed in Claim 1, characterised in that essentially the one long side of said cross-section is straight, and that the second long side on either side of a middle waist portion curves outward. 3. A device as disclosed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the cross-section of said central waist portion is straight. 4. A device as disclosed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the profile body is approximately B-shaped in cross-section. 5 . A device as disclosed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the profile body has a cross-section that is roughly the shape of a peanut shell. 6. A device as disclosed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the profile body has a cross-section that is roughly the shape of a figure of 8. 7. A device as disclosed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the arc of said complementary rounded portion spans an angle in the range of 120°-210°, preferably 165°. 8. A device as disclosed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that on said waist portion at least one seal is provided for sound-draughtproofing. 9. A device as disclosed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that a sealing body, e.g., of a heat- activated material, is placed in a recess on the rounded portion of the profile body and/or on said complementary rounded portion. 10. A device as disclosed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the arc of said complementary rounded portion has an overgrip, the extent of which is less than half the distance between said centres of curvature.

Inventors: FRIES BROR, FRIES, BROR
Applicants: FRIES BROR, GRORUD JERNVAREFAB AS, A/S GRORUD JERNVAREFABRIK, FRIES, BROR
Application year: 1994
Main classification: E05D3
IPC codes: E05D3, E06B3, E06B7